Assessing your health prior to admission

If there have been any recent changes in your health please ensure that your anaesthetist, surgeon or Royston nursing staff are advised at the earliest opportunity.

For example, if you develop a cold, flu, infection, vomiting, diarrhoea, laceration or breakdown of skin, or suffer an asthma attack prior to your admission to hospital you should let one of the above know as soon as possible, as it may be necessary to postpone your procedure.

Confirming your admission time

Your specialist will have given you a date for surgery and possibly even an admission time.

Please phone the hospital receptionist on (06) 873 1111 - Extn 0 between 11am and 6pm the working day before your surgery to confirm your admission time.

Eating and drinking before your anaesthetic

You are required to follow strict instructions about when you must stop eating and drinking. It is important that you follow these instructions closely as failure to do so may mean postponement of your procedure and you may incur charges.

Admissions up to and including 12 midday, you:

SHOULD have supper as late as you wish, but before midnight

MUST NOT eat anything (this includes chewing gum and sweets) or drink anything except WATER after midnight

MAY drink WATER freely until 1 hour before your admission time

MUST take all routine medications (unless told otherwise by your surgeon or anaesthetist).

Admissions after 12 midday, you:

SHOULD have a LIGHT breakfast before 7:00am (e.g. tea and toast (2 slices) or a light cereal. No porridge or cooked breakfast)

MUST NOT eat anything (this includes chewing gum and sweets) or drink anything except WATER after 7:00am

MAY drink WATER freely until 1 hour before your admission time

MUST take all routine medications (unless told otherwise by your surgeon or anaesthetist).

These instructions are for your safety and well-being. Please follow them closely. If your Surgeon or Anaesthetist gives you other instructions, you must comply with them.

Your current medications

Discuss with your specialist any regular medications you are taking,and bring all your usual medications to hospital with you.

A detailed list from your general practitioner will help your doctors chart the correct medications for you.

Patients on anticoagulants need to take special care.

Anticoagulants (drugs that thin your blood) for example Warfarin, Plavix, Persantin, should not be taken prior to surgery without consulting your specialist.

Aspirin or Disprin is usually, but not always, discontinued in the week prior to surgery. Please check with your specialist.

Failure to stop taking your anticoagulant medications as advised could result in your procedure being postponed.

Alcohol, cigarettes and recreational drugs

We recommend that you avoid alcohol, cigarettes and drugs (other than those drugs your specialist prescribes) during the 24 hours prior to your admission.